Combined step-ladder and washbench.



V. M. CANO.

COMBINED STEP LAD DER AND WASHBENCH. APPLICATION FILED MARJI. 1-915.

1,2Q95Q Patented Mar; 27, 1917.

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M. CANO. COMBINED STEP LADDER AND WASHBENCH.

APPUCATION FILED MAR. 1,1915. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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vrc'ron M. GANG, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR or TWO-FIFTI-IS r0 DAVID e.

. BLACK, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND WASI-IBENCH.

Application filed March 1, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vroron M. CANo, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, and residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Step-Ladders and Vashbenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladders and benches.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device which is adapted to form either a stepladder or a wash bench.

Another object is to provide a device of this type which can be extended and collapsed, which when extended forms a rigid and braced structure, which is simple in construction and operation, cheap to manufacture, and durable.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation illustrating a device embodying this invention used as a stepladder;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1, but showing the device used as a bench;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device folded;

gig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4; an

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates a pair of stringers connected by steps or rungs-11 to form the step portion of the ladder. On this step portion is mounted a platform 12 having side pieces 13 attached thereto and to the stringers to rigidly connect said parts together. A pair of side members 14 are pivoted to the pieces 13 by bolts 15 so as to form the support for the step portion. Arms 16 are pivoted to the side members 14 by bolts 17 and these arms support a shelf 18. A bar 19 connecting the arms 16 has mounted thereon a brace 20 which is adapted to en age a cross bar 21 connecting the side mem ers 14, and this brace has a metal bracket 22 mounted thereon to form, with the brace, a fork engaging the cross bar. A chain 23 connected, at its ends, to the side members 14 and pass- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2'3, 191?.

Serial No. 11,442.

ing loosely through an eye on the lower end of one of the steps 11, connects the support with the step portion. These parts form, together, a stepladder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A pair of side standards 24 are pivoted, at their lower ends, to the lower end of the side members 14 by bolts 25, and these standards are connected by strips 26 to form a braced frame adapted to swing into and out of the space between the side members 14. The ends 27 of the standards 24 are adapted to engage the lower step 11 and also a cross piece 37 attached to the side members 10. The standards 24 also have a cross piece 28 adapted to engage the cross piece 37 and the cross piece 28 has attached to its center a yielding bracket or latch 29 of strap iron whose outer end flares to engage the cross piece 37.

The arms 16 have extensions 31 adapted to engage the upper step 11 and also a cross piece 32 attached to the side member 10, and these extensions also have a cross piece 33 adapted to engage the cross piece 32.

When the parts are in extended position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the device forms a stepladder, and the arms 16 carrying the shelf 18 are, at this time, supported by the brace 20 which is held in supporting position by the bracket 22 engaging the cross bar 21. At this time the cross bar 21 is approximately below the center of the shelf 18, so that all parts will be firmly supported to form a rigid structure. When it is desired to use the device as a bench, the frame 24, 26 is swung downwardly, the support is moved toward the step portion, so as to cause the ends 27 and the clip 29 to engage the opposite sides of the cross piece 37, and so as to cause the cross piece 28 to abut against the cross piece 37. This will also cause the extensions 31 and the cross piece 33 to bear against the cross piece 32. The brace 20 is now moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to cause the notch 34 thereon to engage the cross bar21. It will now be seen that the arms 16 and the standards 24 will form the ends of the bench, the step portion forming the top, and that these ends are firmly interlocked with the step portion. Furthermore, the notch 34 on the brace 20 coiiperating with the cross bar 21 acts as a latch to latch the parts in interlocked relation so-that the device cannot be collapsed until the brace is moved upwardly, Fig. 3. To collapse the device, the brace 20 is moved upwardly so that it, as Well as the bracket 22, Will clear the cross bar, this brace and the arms 16 are then moved down about their pivots 17 and 19, so as to lie along the side members-14, and the frame 24, is then moved over these parts. The Whole support is then moved against the step portion, and this Will cause the down- Wardly extended point or tip of the yielding latch member 29 to snap into the recess 36 in a plate on one ofthe steps 11 and latch the parts in collapsed position, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in'details of construction Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to. be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A combined ladder and bench comprising a step portion adapted to form the top of the bench and having rungs and cross pieces, a support hinged to said step portion, a shelf hinged to said support, a frame hinged to said support, said shelf and said frame having cross pieces bearing under the cross pieces on saidstep portion, and also extensions disposed for overlapping said last named cross pieces, adapted to interlock said shelf and said frame direct with said step portion to form end supports for the bench.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of these tWo Witnesses.

VICTOR M. CANO.

Copies-of. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

